On an intriguing day of Test cricket, India started their first-ever pink-ball Test in a horrendous manner, then showed defiance only to see a late slump as Australia won bragging rights. Virat Kohli's enduring love affair with Adelaide Oval resulted in a classy 74 but his untimely run-out triggered a batting collapse as India ended the opening day at 233 for 6 against Australia in the first Day-Night Test on Thursday. Kohli, who looked in complete command, was run out when his deputy Ajinkya Rahane backed out after calling for a single and it happened just before the second new ball was taken. From a comfortable 188 for 3, India slumped to 206 for 6 as Rahane and Hanuma Vihari (16) found the pace and swing generated by the pink ball under lights too hot to handle. Ravichandran Ashwin (15 batting) and Wriddhiman Saha (9 batting) saw off the final few overs and also got a few runs. Catch Day 1 highlights here. (SCORECARD | LIVE STREAMING | NEWS)
1st Innings - India; Toss - India
5:08 PM IST: STUMPS! Wriddhiman Saha (9 off 25) and Ravichandran Ashwin (15 off 17) saw ott the last few overs to help India avoid further slump. 89 overs' play on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test results in India scoring 233/6.
Brief Scores:
India 1st Innings: 233 for 6 in 89 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 43, Virat Kohli 74; Ajinkya Rahane 42; Mitchell Starc 2/49)
4:41 PM IST: 200 up for India. And India lost another one. Hanuma Vihari apprehensively walked back. Given LBW. Not review taken. Wicket for Josh Hazlewood. Vihari made scored 16 off 25. IND - 206/6 (83.2).
Ravichandran Ashwin joined Wriddhiman Saha in the centre.
4:28 PM IST: Second new ball taken after 80 overs, and Mitchell Starc got it first. And Ajinkya Rahane walked, but Hanuma Vihari ran to him and took a review. Not saving. Rahane out, trapped in front. He made 42 off 92. IND - 196/5 (80.4).
42 runs and two wickets in the last ten overs. Wriddhiman Saha joined Vihari in the centre.
4:20 PM IST: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced a dramatic end to his international cricket career, alleging that he has been "mentally tortured" by PCB.
4:11 PM IST: WICKET! Massive mix-up. Ajinkya Rahane called for a quick single and Virat Kohli found himself stranded in the middle. Skipper gone for 74 off 180. IND - 188/4 (77).
Hanuma Vihari new man for India.
4:02 PM IST: 39 runs in the last ten overs as India started to score more freely after a very slow start to the match. Virat Kohli (72 off 176) and Ajinkya Rahane (34 off 78) so far looked good. IND - 178/3 (75).
3:52 PM IST: Another good period of play for India. 30 runs in the last ten overs without losing a wicket. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have added 66 runs in 143 balls. IND - 166/3 (73).
And Drinks!
3:30 PM IST: 150 up for India and 50-run stand for Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Kohli pulled Josh Hazlewood for a four (67.5). IND 152/3 (68).
3:21 PM IST: A desperate dive saved Ajinkya Rahane at the striker's end as Virat Kohli called for a quick single off the last ball of the 66th over. Travis Head, at mid-wicket, hit the stumps. 35 runs in the last ten overs. IND - 141/3 (66).
2:57 PM IST: A single off the first ball of 61st over and fifty for India skipper hit fifty in 123 balls. IND -126/3 (61)
2:48 PM IST: One good for India as Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli hit Nathan Lyon for a four each. 10 from Lyon's 14th over. IND - 119/3.
22 runs in the last ten overs. Kohli four away from fifty.
2:40 PM IST: And one run from Nathan Lyon's 13th over. IND - 108/3.
Meanwhile, BCCI has given Motera the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 knock-outs.
2:35 PM IST: Players are back. And Nathan Lyon to resume proceedings.
2:18 PM IST: Tea time in Adelaide.
Australia in control but India did well to add crucial runs in the second session. 41 runs with two wickets in the first session and 66 runs with one wicket in the second.
Virat Kohli (39 off 111) and Ajinkya Rahane (2 off 20) are unbeaten. IND - 107/3 (55). Wickets for Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
1:56 PM IST: 100 up for India in the 50th over, then Cheteshwar Pujara started walking after playing a defensive shot against Nathan Lyon (49.3 overs). But the umpire shook his head to the Aussie appeal for a catch by Marnus Labuschagne. And indeed it was a catch, as confirmed by the TV umpire. Pujara gone for 43 off 160 balls. IND - 100/3 (49.4). He added 69 runs with Virat Kohli for the third wicket.
Ajinkya Rahane new man for India.
1:39 PM IST: Fifty-run stand for Cheteshwar Pujara (31) and Virat Kohli (29) in 163 balls. IND 82/2 (45.1)
1:29 PM IST: Nasty blow. A short ball from Mitchell Starc hit Virat Kohli's hand. His thumb's bleeding. IND - 73/2 (42.3). But the Indian skipper continued after patching up.
1:14 PM IST: Another maiden over for Nathan Lyon, with lot of 'catch it' shouts as Cheteshwar Pujara tried to survive in the middle. 20 runs in the last ten overs. 39 in 132 balls for Pujara-Virat Kohli stand. IND - 71/2 (40).
And with that Drinks!
12:49 PM IST: Nathan Lyon with his first over in the 32nd as Aussies introduced spin for the first time in the match. Five from it. And three very quick overs for the off-spinner. After 36 overs, India were 67/2. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have added 35 in 108 balls.
12:40 PM IST: Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli added 22 runs in 78 balls as India continued to rebuild their innings. IND - 55/2 (31).
12:19 PM IST: Josh Hazlewood delivered his fourth maiden over today, to Cheteshwar Pujara (17 off 94). IND - 41/2 (26).
12:17 PM IST: Meanwhile, New Zealand and Pakistan will have to do without their talismanic captains Kane Williamson and Babar Azam when their T20I series gets under way on Friday. Read preview HERE.
12:13 PM IST: Players are back for the post-Dinner play.
12:04 PM IST: ICYMI - India hockey captain Manpreet Singh marries his Malaysian fiancee Illi Najwa Saddique on Wednesday.
11:34 AM IST: Dinner Break
16 runs in the last ten overs for India as teams take Dinner break in Adelaide. Cheteshwar Pujara (17 off 88) and Virat Kohli (5 off 22) are unbeaten, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins got the wickets of Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal early in the innings.
India: 41/2 (25)
11:25 AM IST: Bowling change and debutant Cameron Green on with his right-arm pace. And a front-foot no-ball to start with. He's tall, by the way.
11:18 AM IST: 12 runs in the last ten overs as India struggle to drop the anchor in Adelaide. IND 34/2 (21).
11:06 AM IST: WICKET! Pat Cummins breached Mayank Agarwal's defence. Bowled. Agarwal made 17 off 40. IND - 32/2.
And Virat Kohli in the centre.
10:45 AM IST: Pat Cummins resumed proceedings after Drinks. A maiden to Cheteshwar Pujara, and another one from Mitchell Starc to Mayank Agarwal. IND 25/1 (14).
10:33 AM IST: Time for Drinks!
10:29 AM IST: Bowling change. Tim Paine introduced Pat Cummins, right-arm fast, into the attack. A single off the last ball.
10:24 AM IST: Ten overs completed. And the first boundary of the match off the last ball of the tenth as Mayank Agarwal timed to perfection his cover drive against Josh Hazlewood. Cheteshwar Pujara seemed to have dropped the anchor. Aussies still operating with Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood. IND - 21/1 (10)
10:16 AM IST: Milwaukee Bucks have tied Giannis Antetokounmpo down for a further five years with a supermax contract. Here's how the Greek Freak became the NBA's best.
10:01 AM IST: Five overs done with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood operating in tandem. For India, Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara are settling in. Tricky conditions. IND - 7/1 (5).
9:52 AM IST: Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, the two best Test batsmen in the world, sat down to chat about the Border-Gavaskar Test Series. The pair spoke about their early days playing the game and what they're both expecting from the series. Watch it here:
9:47 AM IST: Josh Hazlewood shared the new ball, and another probing over. Maiden to Che Pujara. IND - 1/1 (2).
9:42 AM IST: Cheteshwar Pujara joined Mayank Agarwal as India looked to rebuild. Mitchell Starc operating at his best. Pujara survived a fine edge, off the fourth ball.
9:37 AM IST: What a start! Mitchell Starc got Prithvi Shaw. Played on. IND - 0/1 (0.2)
9:34 AM IST: Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal are out there to open for India. Both brilliant Test openers, but new territory for both. India are playing their first-ever Day-Night Test away from home, against a side which is yet to taste defeat in a pink-ball match.
Mitchell Starc with the new ball.
9:32 AM IST: National Anthems are done. Get ready for a fascinating rivalry to resume...
9:08 AM IST: Here are the playing XIs -
Australia: Joe Burns, Matthew Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin.
9:04 AM IST: India won the toss and bat first.
9:01 AM IST: Good covering of grass, and according to Glenn McGrath, bat first and bat well and post 350+ in first innings.
8:45 AM IST: It's confirmed. Cameron Green is making his Test debut for Australia. Pat Cummins just handed the cap to the young all-rounder. Toss coming up.
8:26 AM IST: Indian players off to Adelaide Oval. Video:
8:11 AM IST: Australian Open tennis is set for February start. Read details HERE.
8:03 AM IST: Here's a look at India's playing XI once again:
Virat Kohli (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin.
India are in third place in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings with 114 rating points, whilst Australia top the rankings with 116.46 rating points. New Zealand follow closely in second with 116.37 rating points. New Zealand are very close to reaching the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021 after securing back-to-back innings victories against the West Indies. India will feel the pressure as the race to the World Test Championship final heats up.
Australia and India will feature in a four-Test series as the hosts look to build on their narrow lead at the top of the table. If New Zealand overcome Pakistan 2-0 in the two-Test series which starts on December 26, the Kiwis will finish on 420 points from five series.
That will leave India needing five wins or four wins and three draws out of their last eight Tests, which include facing Australia away and hosting England for a four-Test series at home beginning in February 2021.
Depending on how India's series against Australia goes and New Zealand's series against Pakistan goes, Australia could build their lead at number one or make way for New Zealand at the top.
The first Test in Adelaide will be a battle between two competent bowling sides. The series win two years ago was engineered by the bowlers and India will go in with four specialist bowlers, three of them pacers.
The onus will be on the batsmen on either side and with the pink ball known to play tricks unlike the red or white, there will be difficult sessions to negotiate especially when the sun sets.
"The pace of the red ball stays the same throughout the day. With the pink ball, the pace changes completely in those 40-50 minutes. Of course, the new ball moves a little for a while, but it gets easy to bat after that.
"Then the twilight period can be challenging because the pace of the ball increases. Both off the wicket and in the air," said India's vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. The challenge is clear.
